Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei challenges Trump

A fierce war of words has erupted between Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and U.S. President Donald Trump following recent U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities.

On his official X account, Khamenei accused Trump of “exaggerating in order to cover up and conceal the truth,” directly responding to Trump’s claim that the U.S. had “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear sites. The post also pushed back against Trump’s earlier boast that he spared the ayatollah’s life during the recent Iran-Israel conflict.

Separately, Trump declared on Truth Social that he is offering Iran “nothing” and is refusing to engage with Iranian officials, signaling a hardening U.S. stance. The escalating online clash raises concerns about the risk of renewed conflict between Washington and Tehran.

Newsweek has reached out the State Department and Iran’s foreign ministry for comment.

Why It Matters

The sharp exchange follows a 12-day Israel-Iran war that ended under a fragile U.S.-brokered ceasefire. During the conflict, the U.S. carried out strikes on Iranian nuclear sites—an unprecedented escalation that has fueled uncertainty. Within both Washington and Tehran, officials remain divided on the strikes’ effectiveness. Some U.S. leaders say the damage was severe, while others express doubts. Iran publicly minimizes the impact but also faces internal debate.

What To Know

Khamenei fired back against Trump, accusing him of “exaggerating in order to cover up and conceal the truth.” The post, written in Farsi on his official X account, directly responded to Trump’s earlier social media message boasting about sparing Khamenei’s life during the Iran-Israel conflict. Khamenei added, “Anyone hearing those remarks could sense that behind the surface, there was another reality. They failed to achieve anything.”

Social Media War

This social media war escalated after Khamenei’s defiant video statement on Thursday, in which he declared Tehran had dealt the U.S. a “severe slap” and claimed Israel would have been “completely destroyed” without American intervention. Trump’s retort came quickly, asserting that he knew the ayatollah’s location and stopped U.S. or Israeli forces from “terminating” him, while also claiming credit for preventing an even greater Israeli attack on Iran.

Central to this bitter exchange are U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities during the conflict—a major escalation that both sides debate fiercely. While some U.S. officials say the strikes significantly weakened Iran’s nuclear program, others are less certain. Iran publicly downplays the damage, though internal assessments remain unclear. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has also said stated that the U.S. and Israeli airstrikes inflicted serious damage on Iran’s nuclear sites.

Trump Blames Obama

On Monday, President Trump intensified his rhetoric, declaring on Truth Social that he is not offering Iran “anything” and is “not even talking” to Iranian officials following the U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities. He dismissed the 2015 nuclear deal, accusing former President Barack Obama of paying billions to Tehran under the “stupid road to a Nuclear Weapon JCPOA,” and criticized the agreement as a failed and costly mistake. Trump had previously withdrawn the U.S. from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2018, citing Iran’s nuclear ambitions and regional activities as justification for ending U.S. participation.

What People Are Saying

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on X: “The US president exaggerated what happened in an unusual way, revealing that he needed to do so… They failed to achieve anything and are exaggerating in order to cover up and conceal the truth.”

President Donald Trump on Truth Social: “I knew EXACTLY where he was sheltered… I SAVED HIM FROM A VERY UGLY AND IGNOMINIOUS DEATH, and he does not have to say, ‘THANK YOU, PRESIDENT TRUMP!'”

What Happens Next

The fragile Iran-Israel ceasefire holds, but the sharp exchange between Trump and Khamenei is a sign of the risk of renewed conflict. Diplomatic efforts have stalled. Mixed U.S. intelligence on the strikes’ effectiveness adds uncertainty.